Former patient’s fundraising gig hits the right note for charity :: Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust

Date published: 16 July 2026

Paul Maddison, who was a patient at Walkergate Park in Newcastle, headlined a gig to raise money for the SHINE Fund.

Part of Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust’s (CNTW) charity, SHINE aims to improve the experience and wellbeing of patients receiving care in the Trust’s mental health, learning disability and neurological care services.

The event, which took place at The Grove in Byker, raised an impressive £1,312 for SHINE.

Organised by Paul’s sister F L Mads and friend Thorn Faustus, the event also saw performances from Kindred Spirit and Peter Dyers.

In November 2024, Paul sustained multiple brain injuries after a motorbike crash.

This led him to spend a year at Walkergate Park, which provides specialist services for people with a disability caused by injury or disease affecting the brain, spinal cord or muscles.

Amazingly, the parts of Paul’s brain that control his musical abilities were unaffected by the accident. He worked on his music skills during his time at Walkergate Park and even organised a gig in the hospital’s day room.

On the fundraising event, F L Mads and Thorn said: “We were over the moon that so many people came along and gave so generously!

“Paul has been a towering example of strength and tenacity during such a hard time and music has been a key part of this. We wanted to organise something to celebrate Paul, showcase his talents and give something back to SHINE who have helped our family immensely.

“Being able to put on this gig has meant an immense amount to us. After Paul’s accident we didn’t know if he would be able to walk or talk again so to see him on stage doing what he loves means the world to us. It has also served as a powerful reminder of how strong and supportive our community is.”

Money from the SHINE Fund is used to provide the extras that make a big difference to patient recovery. Since launching in 2014, SHINE has funded hundreds of projects, supporting patients with everything from exercise equipment and pet therapy to yoga classes and gardening tools.

The money was raised through ticket sales and a raffle with prizes from a range of local businesses including: